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Inch-wide flowers age from cream to violet.

Baptisia Lunar Eclipse

Large flowers held on strong stems on top of a sturdy plant . Flowers age from pure, creamy vanilla in color to icy-blue, making a stunning combo.

The inch-wide flowers of this selection are initially a light lemon-cream in color, aging to a medium and even dark violet, producing a unique two-toned color effect to the inflorescences like no other false indigo! The 15”-long inflorescences are held well above the foliage. Expect a three-week bloom from late May to mid-June (USDA Zone 5). Mature plants exhibit an open, airy habit with stout stems angled out at their base and no lower stem foliage. ‘Lunar Eclipse’ is a wonderful focal plant for any perennial border. Well-drained soils are a must. This complex hybrid was developed from Baptisia albescens, B. australis, B. leucophaea, and B. tinctoria.

Please note: We don't sell plants. Asking your local retailer or googling the plant name is the easiest way to find someone selling our plants.

Please note: Download hi-res photos from the photo gallery at the bottom of the page.


Who Am I?

  • Common Name

    Lunar Eclipse false indigo
  • Botanical Name

    Baptisia 'Lunar Eclipse' PP25875
  • Type

    Perennial
  • US Native?

    YES
  • Origin

    The Prairieblues™ false indigos were developed by Jim Ault, Ph.D., at the Chicago Botanic Garden from crosses made between 1999 and 2004. The selections were developed from crossing Baptisia albescens (formerly B. alba), B. australis var. australis, B. australis var. minor, B. bracteata (formerly B. leucophaea), B. sphaerocarpa, and B. tinctoria in various c ombinations. All parent plants and selections were grown in-ground at the Chicago Botanic Garden (USDA Zone 5b) during the breeding and selection process.

  • Bloom Time

    Late spring
  • Bloom Color

    White to blue
  • Fruit Time

    Fall
  • Fruit Color

    Gray

Cultural Details

  • Bloom Time

    Late spring
  • Size

    3' tall by 3.5' wide
  • Hardiness Zone

    4-9
  • Light

    Full sun
  • Soil

    Moist, but well-drained, fairly adaptable to many soils
  • Moisture

    Drought tolerant once established
  • Disease & Pests

    False indigos exhibit good to excellent disease resistance. A seed weevil will predate the seed, but this does not detract from either plant health or display value. The genista broom moth caterpillar (Uresiphita reversalis) can seriously defoliate plants of Baptisia, but this tends to be more of a problem in warmer climes.
  • Landscape Use

    Borders, foundations, mass plantings, matrix plantings, naturalized gardens, commercial plantings
  • Propagation

    Softwood Cuttings, Tissue Culture

Available Photos

Hover over images to download hi-res files.